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### Question: What to expect if I have Urea cycle disorder  (Outlook/Prognosis)?
### Response: How well patients do depends on:
Which urea cycle abnormality they have How severe it is How early it is discovered How closely they follow a protein-restricted diet
Babies diagnosed in the first week of life and put on a protein-restricted diet right away do well.
Sticking to the diet can lead to normal adult intelligence. Repeatedly not following the diet or having stress-induced symptoms can lead to brain swelling and brain damage.
Major stresses, such as surgery or accidents, can be complicated for these patients. Extreme care is needed to avoid problems during such periods.